The Coalition of Filipino Commuters (CFC) has called on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to enforce standardized government-mandated discounts for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) across all transport network companies (TNCs).  

CFC chairperson Ira Panganiban raised concerns over inconsistent practices among ride-hailing platforms such as Grab, InDrive, Angkas, Maxim, Joyride and MOVE IT. 

Reports from passengers and social media posts indicate that some platforms either irregularly implement these discounts or fail to offer them entirely, violating the law and disadvantage commuters.  

“The lack of standardization and oversight in discount implementation makes it more challenging to access the discount,” Panganiban said.

“The inconsistency in the implementation not only hampers the intended financial relief but also complicates the verification process, potentially leading to fraudulent claims that could adversely affect driver earnings,” he added.

Be consistent

The CFC urged the LTFRB to ensure the consistent application of discounts across all platforms, especially amid the country’s growing reliance on digital ride-hailing services.

The group emphasized that a standardized system would not only protect commuters’ rights but also simplify verification processes, reducing the likelihood of fraudulent claims.  

As ride-hailing services have become an essential mode of transportation for many Filipinos, the CFC appealed to the LTFRB for immediate action to address these issues and uphold equitable access to mandated discounts.  

During a Senate hearing earlier this week, Grab Philippines was scrutinized for allegedly passing the cost of discounts onto its drivers. However, the company clarified that it “continues to subsidize government-mandated discounts for its drivers by applying reduced commissions on discounted fares.”  

Grab also explained that this system helps mitigate the impact of fare discounts on driver earnings. In a separate statement, the company said it shoulders the full cost of unverified and fraudulent senior citizen, PWD, and student discounts, noting that one in three bookings under these categories are reported by drivers as either unverified or potentially fraudulent.  

As of press time, the LTFRB had not responded to the CFC’s appeal.